Preparedness - Anything Goes
Catastrophic events aside, anyone can find themselves suddenly unemployed. Unemployment for extended periods is tantamount to a ‘Great Depression’ on a personal level. Consequently, continued education, either to keep us indispensable in our present employment or to prepare us for possible career changes should not be overlooked in our long term plans.
Corporate America can no longer be counted on for financial security or retirement benefits. I write from personal experience and am grateful to have received and applied the following principles at least once already in my life.
Personal and family preparedness is a prudent undertaking, and preparedness isn’t a radical idea - it’s just uncommon. There is no necessity of choosing between security and freedom when you can have both. It behooves a thoughtful and responsible person to set aside a years supply, or minimum of six months, of dry goods combined with the knowledge to use them, water, medical supplies, fuel, clothing and money, or as much as one has within their power to do. There are numerous cooperatives that can supply any need the family may have. The circles we run with combine food orders to give us buying power. We circulate portable dry canning equipment to share the burden of work.
A word to the wise: Preparedness equates to peace of mind, and skills necessary to set aside food stores and effectively use them, or develop a garden capable of sustaining family needs comes from experience over a period of time.
Where does one find time to practice a way of life espoused in this post? We weaned ourselves from the opiate of prime time television years ago through the example of friends who had recognized the same wisdom. We were surprised to find that through redefining our priorities, we had sufficient time for our jobs, continued education, gardening and canning, quality time for family activities including date night, community service and believe it or not, sleep. Everyone has interests and hobbies they’ve neglected once they got “Hooked” on TV. It is absolutely amazing how easy it is, with a little imagination and planning, to find something to do when you turn off the tube. For example, in addition to the usual family responsibilities, I've managed to develop an edible landscape, participate in a sustainable living organization, and finish a B.S. degree. Once you commit to the idea and become fully involved the “Withdrawal” process is rather painless, with little danger of backsliding.
Shortly after the war, backyard victory gardens produced at least 30% of all produce grown in this country with all the popular vegetable varieties being represented. Corporate farms have succeeded for the most part in driving the small commercial farmer out of business, virtually monopolizing our sources of food. Vast areas of a single food crop are grown because of the efficiency of harvesting and profit margin without consideration of the inherent vulnerability of monocultures to disease.A few small growers survive by specializing in the production of bedding plants and herbs. The small + 2 acre private farm that grows specialty, i.e., unusual and oriental vegetables, also does well. The parking lot vegetable vendor still does a business from the occasional backyard garden.
The edible landscaper can manage very well for the needs of family with planning and preparation.I lament the passing of a way of life embodied in the small family farm, with its intrinsic values of prudence, hard work and thrift. I see, in retrospect, the values of my Grandfather's generation, and I believe that rural life was a good way to grow up.
One is hard pressed today to find a youth that is raised to value the virtues of hard work. American society has become perilously soft and lazy, and we have been lulled into a sense of complacency because of the abundance of goods we enjoy. With the exception of the advantages of medical technology, I don’t believe we’re better off today.
“It’s time to start living the life we’ve imagined.” - James Henry
Corporate America can no longer be counted on for financial security or retirement benefits. I write from personal experience and am grateful to have received and applied the following principles at least once already in my life.
Personal and family preparedness is a prudent undertaking, and preparedness isn’t a radical idea - it’s just uncommon. There is no necessity of choosing between security and freedom when you can have both. It behooves a thoughtful and responsible person to set aside a years supply, or minimum of six months, of dry goods combined with the knowledge to use them, water, medical supplies, fuel, clothing and money, or as much as one has within their power to do. There are numerous cooperatives that can supply any need the family may have. The circles we run with combine food orders to give us buying power. We circulate portable dry canning equipment to share the burden of work.
A word to the wise: Preparedness equates to peace of mind, and skills necessary to set aside food stores and effectively use them, or develop a garden capable of sustaining family needs comes from experience over a period of time.
Where does one find time to practice a way of life espoused in this post? We weaned ourselves from the opiate of prime time television years ago through the example of friends who had recognized the same wisdom. We were surprised to find that through redefining our priorities, we had sufficient time for our jobs, continued education, gardening and canning, quality time for family activities including date night, community service and believe it or not, sleep. Everyone has interests and hobbies they’ve neglected once they got “Hooked” on TV. It is absolutely amazing how easy it is, with a little imagination and planning, to find something to do when you turn off the tube. For example, in addition to the usual family responsibilities, I've managed to develop an edible landscape, participate in a sustainable living organization, and finish a B.S. degree. Once you commit to the idea and become fully involved the “Withdrawal” process is rather painless, with little danger of backsliding.
Shortly after the war, backyard victory gardens produced at least 30% of all produce grown in this country with all the popular vegetable varieties being represented. Corporate farms have succeeded for the most part in driving the small commercial farmer out of business, virtually monopolizing our sources of food. Vast areas of a single food crop are grown because of the efficiency of harvesting and profit margin without consideration of the inherent vulnerability of monocultures to disease.A few small growers survive by specializing in the production of bedding plants and herbs. The small + 2 acre private farm that grows specialty, i.e., unusual and oriental vegetables, also does well. The parking lot vegetable vendor still does a business from the occasional backyard garden.
The edible landscaper can manage very well for the needs of family with planning and preparation.I lament the passing of a way of life embodied in the small family farm, with its intrinsic values of prudence, hard work and thrift. I see, in retrospect, the values of my Grandfather's generation, and I believe that rural life was a good way to grow up.
One is hard pressed today to find a youth that is raised to value the virtues of hard work. American society has become perilously soft and lazy, and we have been lulled into a sense of complacency because of the abundance of goods we enjoy. With the exception of the advantages of medical technology, I don’t believe we’re better off today.
“It’s time to start living the life we’ve imagined.” - James Henry
posted by Howard | 9:29 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home